God's
Grace and Healing
By Sammy Poole |
|
Click photo to see a larger version of the article. |
"You
may have cancer,"
were his words, and
panic gripped my heart like a pit bull of despair!
Though I had committed my life to Jesus Christ years
before, I was not eager to die and leave my wife and
son. Death seemed so certain if the verdict really
was ‘cancer.’
It soon became apparent there is a fate worse than
death; that is fear. Fear was driving me
against the wall, so I prayed that God would remove
it and help me accept His will – whatever that
might mean. Once fear was gone, the battle seemed
more like a skirmish. |
Surgery proved it to be a malignant tumor, and cobalt
was to follow. With a song in my heart, (literally), fear
having been taken away, I was certain cobalt would present
no problem. My positive thoughts were quickly replaced,
however, with assurances to God that, 'I could not stand
three weeks of cobalt!' Surely He must have been
listening, but He was painfully silent.
The seventh day found me at the bottom, emotionally, as
I watched a religious TV program. Vestal Goodman told how
God had healed her of a major heart condition, and I began
to sense a "faith lift." I felt impressed to get dressed
and go to the TV studio where this program was being
broadcast, and was soon on my way.
As I drove out Charlotte’s Independence Blvd., I was
overwhelmed by the most wonderful words: "This day
healing will come to my house! A marvelous sense of peace
took over where the agony of cobalt had been, and I was
convinced God was healing me "that day."
I assured God I would stop the cobalt treatments if
He said, 'stop,' but never felt this to be His will. After
the quiet audience with God I felt I could face anything --
even cobalt. After that day I was never adversely affected
again by the treatments. God healed me and went on to prove,
"His grace is sufficient."
That was back in 1975. Since then I have covered
hundreds of thousands of miles, singing, sharing,
encouraging, and seeking to bring a "faith lift" to
others. As I sing to the lonely, and so often, 'forgotten,' in nursing homes, I see the value of music.
My love for God and commitment to Jesus Christ continue to
grow as I remind others, and myself, that God will never
allow you to go beyond the reach of His mercy. You may walk
through the valley, but you will never walk alone. God did
not give to me "a thorn extraction," but He did give to
me a "grace injection!"
"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make
His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. May
the
Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you
peace."
|
